Monthly Archives: February 2020

MIT: Why the electric-car revolution may take a lot longer than expected

Posted on February 22, 2020 by

Preface. This study from MIT explains why price parity of electric and gasoline vehicles is likely to take a lot longer than 5 years, and perhaps never if cars continue to depend on lithium-ion batteries. Deeper cost declines beyond 2030 … Continue reading →

Posted in Automobiles, Lithium-ion | Tagged | 4 Comments

Charles Hall: politicians and economy do best when oil is cheap

Posted on February 19, 2020 by

Preface. Politicians claim credit for a good economy, but what makes an economy prosperous? Cheap oil. During Trump’s reign “relatively cheap oil and gas are keeping the U.S. economy strong. But this cheap oil and gas is being partially subsidized … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles A. S. Hall | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Many signs of peak oil and decline

Posted on February 16, 2020 by

Preface.  Recently the IEA 2018 World Energy Outlook predicted an oil crunch could happen as soon as 2023.  Oil supermajors are expected to have 10 years of reserve life or more, Shell is down to just 8 years. Political shortages … Continue reading →

Posted in Debt, How Much Left, Peak Oil | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Russia has been bombarding Ukraine with fake news since 2014. Sound familiar?

Posted on February 13, 2020 by

Preface.  Long before Russia bombarded the U.S. with fake news in the 2016 election campaign, Ukraine was the target, where Russia honed its propaganda skills.  The parallels with their fake news assault on the U.S. are striking, perhaps if more … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Thinking, Politics, Russia | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Fox news estranges millions of families and instills hate and fear in its cult members

Posted on February 10, 2020 by

Preface.  This is a book review that has key excerpts of “Foxocracy”, by Tobin Smith, who worked at Fox for 14 years and was friends with Roger Ailes as well as the staff that decided what the propaganda of the … Continue reading →

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Nothing is true & everything Is possible: the surreal heart of the new Russia by Peter Pomerantsev

Posted on February 10, 2020 by

Preface. In light of how greatly Russia influenced the election of Trump, it’s worth reading this book to see how Russia has used propaganda to control their own people, keep Putin in office, and in general how the rule of … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Financial, Russia | 7 Comments

The shocking truth about life in Saudi Arabia, oppression, conformity, & poverty

Posted on February 7, 2020 by

Preface. Saudi Arabia produces 1 in 4 barrels of oil. Their fate will affect all of us. Yet most Saudis are poor despite the $400 billion in income from oil. They lack decent homes, health care, sanitation, and education. Fear, … Continue reading →

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William Rees: Memo from a Climate Crisis Realist: The Choice before Us

Posted on February 4, 2020 by

Preface. I’m going to put Rees’ conclusion of 11 things to do first (rather than the Green New Deal, which can’t possibly work), followed by his arguments for why this needs to be done (if you haven’t read part 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Experts, Experts | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

William E. Rees: Don’t Call Me a Pessimist on Climate Change. I Am a Realist

Posted on February 1, 2020 by

Preface. William E. Rees is professor emeritus of human ecology and ecological economics at the University of British Columbia. He’s one of my favorite ecological writers and has written about energy, limits to growth, sustainability and other ecological topics for … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Experts, Experts | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments